Mizzou Baseball Quotes & Notes: Tigers Old & New

■ Missouri infielder's bat stays hot despite Missouri loss (Columbia Missourian)

Nicholas hinted that Santo might be better defensively at third, but he refused to admit it.

“I won’t ever say that,” Nicholas said. “When you have a shortstop at third instead of a catcher, it’s a little bit better.”

Santo said he thinks Nicholas has better hands than him because of Nicholas’ ability to play catcher.

■ Everything clicks for MU (Columbia Tribune)

“We’re a fighting team. We’re not going to give up that easy,” freshman Eric Garcia said. “We went down five, but we knew we were going to get them back real quick.”

By the end of the first inning, the Tigers had tied the score. By game’s end, Missouri had slugged its way to a 22-14 victory.

■ Debating Strength of Schedule (Baseball America)

The problem with the focus on "good" wins is that it fails to recognize that there's value in not losing to bad teams as well; that's one of the things that caused folks to underrate TCU last year, for example. Giving extra value for a series win (more value than just for two wins) ignores just how thin that line between winning and losing a series is. If that extra run in one game gets you extra credit for three games, that distorts the picture.

MU in the Majors
■ Kinsler says he's starting season on the DL (mlb.com)

Ian Kinsler (04) has been sidelined since March 12 with a sprained right ankle, he has not started running or doing agility drills and he has played in just five games in the Cactus League. The Rangers open the season on Monday against the Blue Jays, and Kinsler is in no way going to be ready.

"I have to pretty much wait for it to get better," Kinsler said. "It's disappointing. Any time you go on the disabled list, it's disappointing. Opening Day is fun, it's fun to be a part of. I'm going to still be a part of it."

■ Rangers' roster is shaping up (DallasNews.com)

Three openings remain – two on the bench and one in the bullpen. A second relief slot could develop if reliever Darren O'Day's elbow hasn't healed before April 5.

The relief situation will be determined between Doug Mathis (05) and Willie Eyre.

■ Max Scherzer has first strong outing of Spring (Detroit Free Press)

Max Scherzer’s (04-06) new teammates have noticed his competitive streak.

“He’s as tough a competitor as Justin Verlander,” Inge said. “We play golf, he has to make every shot, every putt. When he takes the mound, he isn’t all about mechanics, he just says, ’I’m going to get you.’ He’s a bulldog and that’s a good thing.”

Baseball and the Arts

■ I'm intrigued by The Baseball Codes: Attention Baseball Fans: This Book Will Eat Your Life (npr.org)

Turbow and Duca have done an incredible thing here, interviewing hundreds of baseball players, managers, coaches, trainers, owners, journalists and broadcasters to assemble a comprehensive history of baseball culture.